Curatorial Internship Grants
This grant funds two-year mentored curatorial internships for recent graduates, supporting hands-on training and diversity-focused projects in American decorative arts at museums and historical societies.
Funder: The Decorative Arts Trust
Due Dates: September 30, 2026
Funding Amounts: Two-year grants of up to $40,000–$45,000 per year for intern salary, with possible additional cost of living support.
Summary: Supports museums and historical societies in hiring recent graduate interns for curatorial roles, fostering professional growth and advancing diversity in American decorative arts.
Key Information: Application is by email (PDF); both host and intern must be Trust members during the internship.
Description
The Decorative Arts Trust's curatorial internship program provides substantial support to museums and historical societies to hire recent graduates (Master’s or PhD) for two-year, mentored curatorial positions. The initiative aims to nurture the next generation of museum curators by offering hands-on experience in curatorial practice, including exhibitions, publications, public programming, and community outreach. The program places a strong emphasis on projects advancing diversity in American decorative arts and supports meaningful professional development for emerging scholars. Host institutions benefit from essential staffing, while interns gain comprehensive curatorial training under experienced mentors.
